I am a big jeans and t-shirt girl. Lauren, not so much. On most occasions, she’d take a party dress and sky-high heels over a burnout tee and ripped jeans. So when we talked about what fall trends we wanted to cover and Lauren said she needed some t-shirts, I jumped on the opportunity to search out some great options for fall. Together, we came up with the following list of our favorite fall tees. And to my delight, Lauren is excited to retire her tight tanks and bright summer dresses for these soft, autumnal t-shirt picks. Pair any of these with black leggings or skinny jeans and you’ll actually want the temperature to drop!

1. Joie Irwin Hooded Top $108 – You’ll look super cool when you snuggle up in this hooded basic. When you need to straighten-up, fold down the hood and you have an elegant cowl neck. Either way you choose to wear this versatile jersey top, it’s sure to be a staple. Buy at shopbop.com.

2. Madewell Beaded Brilliance Tee $62 – Take it up a notch in an embellished tee. With a pair of classically tailored pants, you can even get away with this top at the office. Going out after work? Switch out the pants for a slinky skirt or wide-leg jeans and heels. Buy at madewell.com.

3. Lauren Moshi Harper Diamond Lips Raglan $118 – As you will see, we are BIG fans of Lauren Moshi. Her tees are anything but standard and will always be the centerpiece of your outfit. Let out your inner rock chic with these diamond lips and silver foil detail. Buy at laurenmoshi.com.

4. Madewell Sail Away Tee $55 – The chain detail around the neck of this nautical number is an unexpected and fun addition to the standard striped tee. Wear it with leggings and a riding boot or skinny jeans, a belt and heels. Buy at madewell.com.

5. Splendid Jersey Oversized T-Shirt $81- Gray has never looked so pretty and sophisticated than in this relaxed fit tee. Wear it with stilettos or ankle boots and skinny jeans for a night out or with stretchy spandex and slippers for a night in. Buy at netaporter.com.

6. Free People Equestrian Toile Thermal $68 – A cute print makes a boring thermal fun. Pair it with ripped jeans, a boho belt and boots and enjoy a casual weekend brunch or trip to the country. Buy at revolveclothing.com.

7. Lauren Moshi Devon Bow Boyfriend Tee $126 – Work it like Taylor Swift and Reese Witherspoon – both have been photographed in this girly take on a classic scoop neck. Dressed up or down, you’ll certainly be a gift worth receiving! Buy at laurenmoshi.com.

8. Lauren Moshi Butterfly Scarlett Draped Rib Tee $112 – Pretty, easy and comfortable. Need we say more? Buy at revolveclothing.com.

Now go get comfy!

xoxo Melina and Lauren

By mid-summer I tend to start fantasizing about my fall wardrobe. Even though I am still wearing dresses, skirts and rompers, I can’t wait to put on jeans, boots, and big sweaters. So now that September has arrived, it’s finally time to talk fall trends. I’ve been keeping lots of lists, but Leopard is the first trend I want to cover because many of these pieces are transitional and can be worn right now.

I am not a big fan of animal prints in general but leopard (and occasionally cheetah) can be very chic when worn sparingly and with the right coordinating pieces. It’s a tricky trend because it can look cheap depending on the quality of the fabric and the actual design of the print. So while you need to spend a little more on these pieces, you don’t need many of them to incorporate the leopard trend into your wardrobe.  One leopard accessory and one piece of clothing can be worn in many different ways throughout the season. To get you started I chose a few pieces that are available online now:

1. Botkier ‘Maddie’ Suede Crossbody Bag $345 – The color, shape and fabric of this bag are completely unexpected and yet so versatile. On the weekends, I would wear it with jeans, biker boots and a crisp white shirt. At night it would look great with wide leg jeans, or pants, and a tweed box jacket (maybe one in black and white with a hint of gold to bring out the yellow of the bag). Buy it at saksfifthavenue.com.

2. Tarnish Asymmetrical Animal Print Fedora $75 – You are too cool if you can wear this hat well. Be forewarned – you must look good in fedoras to get away with this one. But if you do, this is an accessory with attitude that will immediately dress up your drab, black winter coats. But it at nordstrom.com.

3. Anlo ‘Jordan’ Dress $260 – A darker version of the leopard print looks great on all skin colors and this is the perfect transitional weight. Wear it now with sandals and later with low motorcycle boots and a cropped jacket. Buy it at nordstrom.com.

4. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Leopard Print Faux Fur Coat $545 – Despite what may seem like a large price tag, this is a great print at a great price and something you will have forever. Buy it at saksfifthavenue.com.

5. See by Chloe Printed Silk Dress $390 – The subtle color and sparse print of this dress make it so sophisticated. Another great transition piece, you can wear it now with nude strappy heels and later with boots and a blazer. For a more casual look this fall, I would put this on with my biker boots and a black boyfriend sweater so it just peeks out the bottom like a skirt. Buy it at net-a-porter.com.

6. AKA New York Cocoon Top $238 – The only leopard top you will ever need. Wear it as a shell under a blazer with wide-leg bottoms, or with black skinny jeans and sky-high suede booties. Buy it at shopbop.com.

7. Ann Taylor Perfect Leopard Flat $158 – Super cute leopard flats never go out of style and can instantly make a boring outfit fun. When you’re feeling uninspired and black seems like the only color in your closet, put this print on your feet and just look like you made an effort. Buy them at anntaylor.com.

8. Tolani Leopard Print Scarf $99 – Just like the flats, this scarf can instantly dress up an outfit. All the the black, grey and brown in your wardrobe will pair perfectly with this pretty piece and you will get a lot of mileage out of a small investment. Buy it at singer22.com.

There are many leopard options out there but we hope this helps inspire you to shop for a few great pieces for fall.

xoxo Melina

3-Tier Round Display $114 - Be like Gwyneth and display this on your kitchen counter, filled with fresh fruit and veggies!

Antiqued Mercury Glass Hurricanes (set of 3) $62 - The antique finish on these votives will cast a lovely warm glow. When the weather gets cooler – light a few of these, curl up on the couch and read a good book!

Hand Forged Iron and Brass Bowls $40-$70 - Available in three different sizes, these bowls feature a golden hue that is so pretty on its own, you may not want to fill them.

Red Striped Oversized Cotton Napkin $14 - These look like you could have stolen them from a great little French bistro. Pass the basket of fresh bread and a bottle of wine and I’ll be good to go!

Eau Minerale Glass $9.95 - The French words for “Mineral Water” printed on these simple water glasses makes them cute and stylish.  Mais bien sur!

Framed Chalk Board: $52 - Such a pretty twist on a classic, you can hang this in the kitchen or above your desk to keep all your thoughts in one place.

It goes without saying that if you are in the mood to “nest”, and fall will always do that to a girl, this is a good place to start!

xoxo Lauren

I was in DC this weekend and stopped over in Georgetown just to checkout one of the first Cusp locations and I was not disappointed. Now that I’ve been there, done that I am happy to give a glowing recommendation of their e-commerce site. It’s like visiting a virtual, mini-department store with all your favorite contemporary clothing, shoe and accessory brands. That includes a well-curated assortment of beauty products, such as Chanel Les Vernis Nail Colour, and the entire line of Hanky Panky underwear.

They make shopping the site interesting with a Trends section listing unexpected search categories like “Instant Gratification”, where all the pieces are priced under $2oo and “Play It by Ear”, featuring just earrings. The brand mix is extensive and I just want to name a “few” here – La Rok, Parker, Elizabeth and James, French Connection, J Brand, Alice & Olivia, Beyond Vintage, Frye, Belle by Sigerson, Madison Marcus, Dolce Vita, Pour Le Victoire, Botkier, Cynthia Vincent, and Foley and Corinna. Check out the site at www.cusp.com for the full roster of designers and products and if you happen to be near a store, I’d recommend stopping in – the design is fresh and the selection is fun!

Happy Shopping!

xoxo Melina

]]> http://www.missknowitall.com/cut-to-the-cusp/feed/ 0 http://www.missknowitall.com/vampire-weekend-and-a-balkan-beat-box/ http://www.missknowitall.com/vampire-weekend-and-a-balkan-beat-box/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:57:33 +0000 Melina http://www.missknowitall.com/?p=948 When you move away and then come home again, there is nothing better than being surrounded by the people you love. That is how I spent last week, with my closest friends and family. My Aunt and Uncle’s back deck, under the stars and overlooking a beautiful pool, became party central. Conversation, games, good wine, and lots of good music kept us up late and gave us lots of lasting memories.

When it comes to what music gets played at these gatherings, my brother and I usually fight over the iPod speakers. While he may be my little bro, he always delivers. Knowing my tastes well, he introduced me to Vampire Weekend, whose latest album, Contra, came out early this year to much buzz as evidenced by their appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Zach Galifianakis in March.

Contra is the band’s sophomore album and, like their partner in this week’s post, has a style that is hard to categorize. Vampire Weekend is overall happy, melodic music but stylistically very hard to define. A little pop, a little indie rock, and just a lot of fun. You may have heard their song “Cousins”, as its gotten the most airplay. I am a fan of the whole album but here is my shortlist of must download tracks: “Horchata”, “White Sky”, “Taxi Cab”, “Run”, and “Giving Up the Gun”. Listen at myspace.com/vampire weekend and download at itunes.com/vampireweekend.

Balkan Beat Box and their April 2010 album, Blue Eyed Black Boy, is equally hard to define. Three first generation Israeli’s meet in New York and decide to make music that reflects their varied ethnic origins and musical influences. The result is a bombastic ball of world-inspired dance music that you won’t be able to listen to sitting down. So download these songs and start bopping at the bus stop: “Move It”, “Blue Eyed Black Boy”, “My Baby”, “Dancing with the Moon”, and “Why”. Listen at myspace.com/balkanbeatbox and download at itunes.com/balkanbeatbox.

Listen and enjoy!

xoxo Melina

As fall approaches I become less enchanted with my strappy gladiator sandals and jewel encrusted thongs and start to dream about how I will adorn my toes when the weather cools. No transition wardrobe is complete without a pair of ballerina flats, or two, or three, or five! For me, this is the perfect shoe – there is no heel, so they are super comfy, but still very feminine thanks to their dainty shape and low profile. So when I met prettyballerinas.us I was in no-heel heaven.

Imagine ballerina flats in every possible color, fabric, pattern and adornment and you have the most prolific purveyor of my perfect shoe. They are also the inventors of the uber-popular Fashion Emergency Pack – “A pair of flexible ballerinas vacuum sealed and ready for the day you can´t walk another step in heels … ” This genius idea is now a staple in fashionable women’s handbags the world over.

A few things to note – each shape of shoe is named after a famous female which makes ordering additional pairs easy once you know you prefer Marilyn over Rita. Formerly only available in Europe, they recently opened a US store on Manhattan’s Upper East Side (where else?) and launched their US based e-commerce site – www.prettyballerinas.us.

There are so many styles I am coveting this fall that I couldn’t begin to make my wish-list for you. I’d rather you discover this virtual candy store of shoes for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!

xoxo Melina

So when I was visiting Melina in Chicago a few weeks ago and came across Melinda Maria’s “Goddess” hoops in gold, I knew I had to add them to my collection. At first an impulse purchase, I am now proud to say that I wear these almost everyday. Subtle but still significant enough to make a statement, they go really well from day to night.

I was so excited about my purchase (retail therapy does exist!) that I immediately looked up the name of the designer. To my delight, Melinda Maria has a vast collection available on her website. And, not surprisingly, I was not the first to take notice of her talent! She has a long list of celebrity clients that are as stylish as her line – Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz and Miley Cyrus (just to name a few).

Here are the links to some of my favorites available on www.melindamaria.com:

1. Goddess Hoops in Gold $70 / 2. Teeny Pod Hoops in Gold $140 / 3. Infinity Pod Bangle $252 / 4. Teeny Pod Ring in Turquoise $58 / 5. Baby Mosaic Earring in Platinum CZ $105 / 6. Galaxy Melted Bangle, Platinum $135 / 7. Moon & Star Necklace (Large) in Rose Gold $170 / 8. Sarah Bangle $58 / 9. Gwyneth Ring in Canary Yellow CZ $64 / 10. Pyramid Spike Bangle in Gold $98

Most of Maria’s pieces are available in various colored stones and metals. I encourage you to take the time to really explore her site because there were so many more pieces worth noting, we just don’t have the room to show them all to you. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

xoxo Lauren

I love yoga but, as we all know, sometimes just getting to a class can be the most challenging “practice”. Whether you are on the road for work or vacation or just can’t find a time or location that works for you, chances are if it’s inconvenient, you just won’t do it. So when my cousin, who just had her second son and works full time, told me that she takes classes online at Yogavibes.com I was excited to give it a try and hopefully have something new to share with all of you.

I did my first online yoga class this morning and it was fantastic. I actually felt like I was taking a real class. Unlike traditional yoga DVDs , Yogavibes films real classes and instructors in studios all over the world. You can pay $10 f0r a 2-week unlimited pass, $20 per month for 5 classes, or $25 per month to take unlimited classes. At the most that is $4 a class – quite a bargain for access to some of the top teachers and studios. For example, you can take the now famous “Core Fusion”, with it’s founders Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito in their gorgeous studio at Exhale Spa in NYC or “Groovy Vinyasa Yoga” from a teacher in Orange County, California.

My own discovery of Yogavibes.com came at the perfect time. This week I’m visiting my family at the beach in NY and there aren’t any yoga studios nearby. So this morning I went for a run and then took Rolf Gates’ 30 minute “After Cardio” practice and it was a great way to round out my workout. Yogavibes has so many different classes that I want to try and now I have no excuse because I can do them anywhere, anytime!

xoxo Melina

As the summer months begin to wind down, the pressure to make the most of the remaining weeks intensifies. Other than the warm weather, the weekends spent at the beach, sun-kissed skin and the ability to wear dresses everyday (no pants for me!), one of my favorite parts of the season are the light, yet flavorful home-cooked meals.

My favorites are never too filling but still have the ability to leave you completely satisfied. Summer meals are best when eaten al fresco and accompanied by fresh corn from the farmer’s market or a simple salad with ripe, colorful vegetables. And, of course, a chilled glass of wine!  Here are some of our best-loved warm weather recipes:

Ina Garten’s Grilled Tuna Rolls: This tuna dish is my most recent obsession. One of my best friends has made it twice for me and I still cannot get enough. The combination of marinated red onions, scallions, avocado and bitter arugula is explosive. She makes it sans bread and serves it in on a large platter. If you want something more substantial without the gluten, it would be great over brown rice. Follow the recipe at www.foodnetwork.com.

Paula Deen’s Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves: Watermelon always reminds me of summers when I was little; pink juices dripping down my chin. I still love to eat watermelon but now I always make sure to have a fork and napkin handy! Serve this dish for lunch or as a refreshing appetizer at dinner. Instead of olive oil, drizzle some balsamic vinegar to add more tartness to the flavors and keep things light! Find the recipe at www.foodnetwork.com.

NoTakeOut’s Linguini with Lemon & Pignoli: As you may recall, we featured NoTakeOut.com back in June and have been using the site ever since. This dish is perfect if you have a craving for pasta but don’t want to be uncomfortably full. Use a whole-grain linguini if you want a healthier option – and if you still need to indulge, add a dollop of ricotta cheese. Add a few grilled shrimp and an extra squeeze of lemon for some protein. The recipe plan includes an avocado and grapefruit salad that sounds like a delightful bonus. Go to www.notakeout.com for the recipe.

Giada DeLaurentis’ Grilled Artichokes with Parsley and Garlic: When two loves of my life (artichokes and garlic) combine, it can be nothing short of magnificent. This dish is simple with just a few ingredients but is extremely tasty. Feel free to substitute the parsley for cilantro (my third great love) for a completely different flavor! For the recipe go t0 www.foodnetwork.com.

Martha Stewart’s Favorite Turkey Burger: This is one of Melina’s favorites that I’m hoping she’ll make on my next visit to Chicago or Fire Island. I’m a fan of any kind of designer burger but this one looks especially good with scallions, garlic, mustard and, more importantly, gruyere cheese. Melina tops it all off with homemade coleslaw. So invite some friends over and have a BBQ they’ll never forget!  Start cooking at marthastewart.com.

So this weekend, turn up the heat and start cooking! Summer will be gone before we know it but hopefully the memories (and recipes!) of these dishes will be everlasting. Bon appetite!

xoxo Lauren

I like a little dose of the unexpected in all my aesthetic aspirations and being playful is important when decorating. Your home is your biggest canvas and should reflect the many different elements of your personality. Generate, an online boutique with furniture, lighting, and home accessories, is a great resource for interesting pieces that can help inject some of your own identity and individuality into your decor. It also has a well organized gift section, where you can search by individual (him, her, kid), price range or personality type (the cook, techie, the rebel). It was really hard to choose just a few things to feature but I did my best to give you a good cross section of what’s available on their site, gnr8.biz:

1. Glo Chandelier by Chris Duffy $499 – This is a back-lit canvas that can be customized with your own image. I happen to like the chandelier and if you have a space that does not allow for a real, ceiling-mounted fixture, this is a great alternative. I would put it in a bedroom, at the end of a hall, or in a big dressing room (hey, a girl can dream).

2. Quad by Nauris Kalinauskas $999 – A piece of art that is also functional. This shelving unit will help turn your books, CDs, record collections and magazines into decor just by arranging them on the shelves. It is available in 3 different sizes and 6 different finish combinations. Quad would look amazing next to a low TV console, at the end of a long hallway, or in an office.

3. Garland Table Lamp by Tord Bootje $169 – Originally designed as a hanging fixture, it has been reimagined as a table lamp.  The laser-cut leaves and flowers are beautiful to admire right at eye level and would look great on a bar, a dresser, or a side table.

4. Rollerstop designed by Harry Allen $99 – Who wouldn’t want a big, gold roller skate as a doorstop? It’s like a silly sculpture for your floor. And the details are incredible, from the worn out toe stop to the intricate laces. It also comes in neon green, white and silver.

5. Herb Garden $49 – A modern design and added functionality makes this the best looking herb planter I have seen. It even has a built-in scissor. Buy a few of them and start an herb garden of your own, you will certainly delight in having fresh herbs and tending to a mini garden that looks so great!

6. Zuny Animal Bookends $49 – Handmade of leather and filled with sand, these adorable bookends can hold-up your heaviest items. There are four different animals available: Boar (shown above), Sheep, White Lion, and Dinosaur. While they obviously are perfect for a kid’s room, I think adults can find great uses for them too – in an office, or on a bookshelf or bedside table. This is a limited edition series so they will eventually run out.

7. Y Grinder by DesignWright $49 – A salt and pepper mill in one, gorgeously modern unit.

Explore all Generate’s goods at gnr8.biz.

xoxo Melina